Work Text:
Ren let out a large breath to just calm down from their absolute adrenaline rush from the past few hours. The Genociders retreated. For now at least. Everyone cheered, but the event wasn't over yet. There was still a lot to be done. Collateral damage, injuries etc. In fact, Ren winced slightly now that the pain was finally settling in. Nah, scratch that, it felt like fire burned their entire insides. Ren was so horribly tired.
Ren jolted up suddenly, remembering something. "Ah, right! Shuichi! Ryota, if it's not too much trouble..." They said, quickly dragging Ryota over to Shuichi, who was still gravely injured with all that blood loss from being smacked around like a rag doll. Ryota perked up and summoned up his Sacred Artifact.
"Alright! Alright!" He said, healing up Shuichi, who let out a relieved breath once the injury sealed up. Ren thanked him and helped Shuichi stand up.
"Shuichi? Are you okay? All better?" They asked. Shuichi nodded, looking around frantically. Neither of them needed to exchange words to understand what Shuichi was looking for. Ren nodded and grabbed his hand. They knew where Duo was. After he was released from his cell, he was ushered off to somewhere safe -since he was a child-.
As soon as Shuichi saw Duo, he practically leaped onto him, crying profusely. For once, Duo didn't say anything snarky and just quietly patted his brother's back as he was practically squeezed half to death. Ren smiled slightly at the sight as the fatigue began to fully sit in. They walked away to meet up with the other members of their Guild and together, they left the underground vicinity of the former Ikebukuro Berserkers.
----------
The morning Sun rose, indicating a new day, one that Ren fully intended to spend it in bed because they were so horribly exhausted from the antics of yesterday.
However, it seemed as though that was not going to be the plan as their phone rang out loudly on their bed stand. Ren groaned and grabbed for it, answering the call without looking at the contact number. "Yes? What? Who is it?" They groaned out.
"Hello? Ren? This is Ren, right?" Ren almost fell off their bed at the voice.
"SHUICHI?!?!?!"
"Ow. My ear. But yes. It's me."
"Who told you my number?? How did you get my number? How are you even calling me? "
"Toji. Lots of pleading and back and forth. Through a cell phone. I've answered your questions so... Listen, could we meet somewhere? You can pick..."
Huh...
"Um... Sure. If you want... That's okay."
"Great. That's um- Yeah great. What time?"
----------
Ren and Shuichi ended up agreeing to meet at a park at around the evening, where it would be cooler and not many people would be around.
It also allowed Ren to get a bit more shut eye. Much appreciated.
Ren arrived first, seating themselves at one of the benches while quietly reading a book. They looked up when they heard some tapping of feet to see Shuichi walking towards them. Their face lit up.
"Shuichi! There you are! Sit sit!" Ren quickly scooted to the side to make space for the boy, who sat down with a mutter of thanks. It was silent for a while, but Ren didn't care in the least bit and simply found it a comfortable silence, swinging their legs back and forth while Shuichi seemed uncomfortable, twiddling his fingers in his lap. Eventually, he was the one to start the conversation.
"So... That fight...against Yog Sothoth..."
Ren hummed and nodded. It had been a tiring match for everyone in their own way. Both of them knew this. So Shuichi continued. "...What you said. What we found out. Your feelings... Did you...mean it?" Ren blinked.
"I wouldn't lie about something like that. I wear my heart on my sleeve! You know the answer to that question."
"Of course..." Shuichi sighed. That was about the response he expected from Ren. "I really expected no less from you, you reckless and foolish Guild Master." He said. Ren spluttered.
"Rude! Blunt! Seriously?!"
"I can't tell a lie."
"Oh yeah... Right. Got it."
Ren pouted like a child and looked away. Shuichi laughed slightly at their antics.
In the past, Shuichi would've never even fathomed the idea of doing this with anyone, just...talking with them. There was no way he'd trust anyone not to do something shady, let alone someone as influential and painstakingly dangerous as Ren. But now...?
Sitting down. Having a casual -well okay not really casual- conversation.
"...Do you really have nothing...?"
Ren smiled and shook their head. "Nope. Not one bit. Not even a scratch."
At Shuichi's incredulous look, they laughed slightly.
"Trust me, it didn't fully set in for me either until I sat in my new house for the first time and just...processed the day." Ren looked up towards the sky fondly, remembering memories that would've caused a frown to anyone else, but only curled a smile onto their mouth.
"I don't remember anything. I don't have anything. Whatever that was in my life is gone." Ren blew out a breath. "It was...messy."
Shuichi hummed, but scratched his head. "I still don't get it then. What led to such...compassion? Recklessness You've lost everything. Shouldn't you have some kind of grudge or- Or something-?! On ANYTHING?!?!" The last part nearly devolved into a shout that made Ren flinch slightly, but they understood why Shuichi reacted the way he did and simply calmed down and spoke.
"...Like you?"
Silence.
Okay Shuichi kind of deserved that.
"Yeah... Like me."
"Well..." Ren smiled slightly and began telling Shuichi exactly what happened when they first woke up. The encounter with the Oni, Ryota and their involvement in the App.
"I was terrified. Who wouldn't be? You wake up, confused and wary and just..." Ren made wavy gestures with their hands. "...That happens to you. It sucks and I definitely wouldn't wish such horrible things upon another. Ever." Shuichi frowned. Admittedly, he actually still didn't fully understand what Ren meant. Anyone else would be traumatized, confused and horrified after such an incident. They'd hold some grudge against the ones who did this to them, or curl up somewhere ad cry for...eternity. Probably.
"You're still confused." Ren pointed out. Shuichi wanted to shake his head, but nodded instead. "...Yeah."
Ren shrugged. "I guess I was just...lucky. And was in the right mindset at the time. I chose to help Ryota and apparently he helped me in return. I mean, he didn't have to but he still did and it- Well it worked out." They laughed and scratched the back of their head. "Life is...still messy obviously. I'd like some answers to my life, what I was before, but even if I don't get them... I'm satisfied. I have people I care about and care about me in turn. If this world has beings like that, then I want to protect it and everyone who lives in it."
Shuichi hummed. "I suppose that's why The Gleaming Sword responded to you?"
Ren shrugged. "It's some hero sword. I don't think I'm a hero, not really. I don't know." At that, the latter shook his head fondly. The leaps and bounds of Ren's humbleness -or cluelessness- were limitless.
He understood now. At least a bit more. As to how and why Ren thinks the way they do, and why their emotions surged him to do such unfathomable things. Like trusting someone.
Ren lost everything, but they found something new in the world they were now in. And decided to make new memories and new friends. To bond. To understand. To trust.
"How can you so explicitly trust someone? I don't- I don't understand that..." Ren hummed in consideration of their next response.
"Trusting someone... It's just like a leap of faith. Maybe they earned your trust, maybe they didn't. Maybe you owe them your trust, maybe you don't. But ultimately, the decision falls to your shoulders. How long will you trust them? How much of your trust will you give them? Minor details don't matter. The point is, you are the one who makes that leap."
"As for me..." They shrugged. "Thinking of stuff like that isn't something I like very much. I don't like looking at my past, but to understand someone, I have to learn about theirs and they about my experience. So..."
Trust explicitly. A reckless, but surprisingly effective strategy. If you're Ren.
Shuichi sighed.
"I don't really understand...'labels'...to trust." That made the other turn to Ren as they continued. "Blood ties? Labels no one can control... If you're only going to trust those who meet your conditions... That's..."
They turned to face Shuichi.
"That's lonely... Isn't it?"
Shuichi's heart throbbed at that and he turned to look at Ren.
"That's lonely?"
Ren nodded. And smiled.
"Mmhmm. Very lonely. No one deserves to be lonely."
Shuichi sighed and looked away, but he couldn't help but smile a little.
"Yes. You are quite right."
This response seemed to please Ren as they clapped their hands together.
"How about it, Shuichi? Will you try to trust someone else other than your brother? Just a bit?"
----------
A few days later, with the members of the Shinjuku Summoners in a small Guild meeting with Ren and Shiro doing most of the talking while the rest of the members goofed off. All was peaceful until a sudden knock from the door, making everyone whip their heads over in surprise.
Who could that be?
Ren scrambled up to the door and flung it open.
Only to see Shuichi standing there awkwardly.
"...Uh... Hi... I kind of...need help with something. Could you do a favour for me? I just... I'm trying something...new."
Ren blinked a few times.
And smiled happily.